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Setting the stage for accurate reporting?

In the same press conference where Fr. Lombardi of the Vatican Press Office made what Vatican Radio has characterized as his call for "accurate reporting", he was accompanied by Fr. Thomas Rosica CSB of Salt and Light TV. During the interregnum, conclave and papal installation, Fr. Rosica will be taking care of the Vatican Press Office's English-language media bulletins and will, no doubt, be one of the Vatican's leading point men for the English-speaking media. It is only fair, then, to ask if Fr. Rosica has a strong understanding of the papacy that will serve him well under pressure from a media looking for soundbites. Unfortunately, as Vox Cantoris reports:

While charity suggests that we should give him the benefit of the doubt that he was caught up in the discussion and that he was running off at the lip to the CBC's Peter Mansbridge, we do need to ask Father Tom Rosica, Executive Producer of Salt + Light, President of Assumption University, Papal Consultor to the Pontifical Council on Social Communications and spokesman for the English media for the upcoming Conclave; was this a sequencing conflict in grammar production, was it a "Freudian slip" (1) or does he really believe this which he stated at 7:28 of this interview. The Catholic people deserve a clarification; the people do not deserve to be lead into scandal or heresy by such a prominent priest.

So, may we have a clarification?

"the leader, that figurehead, this first among equals in the person of the pope"

This passage comes in as Fr. Rosica explains how the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI has taken the Church one step further into examining the role and nature of the papacy. (The part of the interview between 5:50 and 8:24 is particularly revealing about his view of the papacy and how it and the Church need to "go forward".)

I am very worried for the faith of those people who are constantly defending, in very creative ways, the wolves in the clergy and the Vatican. What is upon is will shake the faith of so many. The rosary, the Tridentine Latin Mass and detachment from this world are not options in the arsenal to retain the faith and avoid confusion--they are absolute necessities.

What Father had to say doesn't matter in the sense that any sentient adult — probably the same with teenagers — within and without the Church, who possesses at least rudimentary knowledge of the Catholic Church, is aware that Holy Mother Church teaches that the Papacy is far beyond that of "first among status."

In popular entertainment and culture, Papal infallibility, for example, is mocked daily. Eastern Orthoxdox, Protestants, Jews, Moslems, Hindus, atheists...the world...are aware as to the Pope's status within the Church.

I just typed "Papal infallibility" at Google News search. More than 2,000 recent news media mentions of Papal infallibility were returned.

Thanks to the secular news media, one thing is certain: Ever since Pope Benedict XVI announced his abdication, the world's news media — print and electronic — even if unwittingly, have focused their massive and powerful collective spotlight upon the awesome authority of the Papacy.

They have done so via endless reports that have featured the whines of "Catholics" who have called upon the future Pope to "update" and "modernize" the Papacy and Church. You know, discard dogma, allow priestesses, cast aside "outdated" sexual ethics...on and on.

They have done so via editorials, columns, radio and TV talks shows, commentaries...and so forth.

the objective of these people is the final disappearance from the world of the Catholic Church and the objective has been set by Lucifer.

Libera Me and Rick de Lano's posts above hit the nail on the head.

They've already ruined the Church's worship, they have introduced serious perversions of doctrine, the Priesthood has been ruined, Church buildings have been re-ordered to resemble Masonic temples, they do and say everything to make the Faithful turn away in disgust.

It looks like this Pope had in his mind his physical and other weaknesses from the start, but in the end he has turned away in disgust too (which it is not his to do, but that's another question).

Now Britain's only Cardinal is finished, whether he's guilty or not guilty.

I thank Almighty God that He gave me my life through parents who saw through all this forty-five years ago.

My mother's prayer was "I pray that my children may believe what I believe".

Charity doe not mean ignoring the faults of others--quite the opposite. We should cry to high heaven against these people. What is it about the Vatican that they let Canadians and homosexuals run them over? I say, bring 'em on. Terms like "homosexual mafia" make me laugh. Who is scared of these perverts? Another closeted pervert? A real man would savor the opportunity to crush these vermin once and for all.

"First among equals" is one of the titles of Caesar Augustus; I wonder if Fr Rosica understands it the same way as Augustus... (There is a long tradition of applying Roman imperial titles to the Holy Father; Supreme Pontiff for instance).

Not clear that cardinal o'brien is being accused of actual homosexual predatory stuff- they said inappropriate. Also he is innocent until proven guilty, especially as he was extremely outspoken about the gay marriage stuff this year. Its not beyond people to make vexatious claims, and they are not children making these claims either.

Don't mention O'Brien and Mahoney in the same sentence! That little story broke at 10 PM UK time on the Guardian. The GUARDIAN. And right now it is unclear what "inappropriate" acts Cardinal O'Brien is said to have done towards his anonymous male adult accusers who were adults at the time of the alleged "inappropriate" behaviour. Cardinal O'Brien is THE most prominent and reviled of all those in the UK who defend traditional marriage.

This might sound alittle crazy because although I get to travel the world in my job and am exposed to many cultures and people (including the rich Catholic heritage of many countries in which we stay during our work which can last from two weeks to up to six weeks), I have to say that this Fr. Lombardi SJ, Fr. Roscia CSB, and also the entire German bishops with their decision about the pill are taking advantage of Benedict XBI's abdication and are trying to maneuver the Catholic Church into the most liberal position possible-before the election of a new Pope. Who will be another weak leader whom they hope they can manipulate and ignore. Therefore the "figurehead" and "first among equals" language....trying to turn the Papacy into the same as the Anglican/Episcopalian "church".

In other words, they are already setting up the Catholic Church, and encouraging their liberal listeners that the new Pope can be ignored just like Benedict XVI was .

I don't expect anything good from this conclave, considering the litany of moderate/liberal names the news media keeps harping on as our next Pope. I, and many people I know would be hard pressed to celebrate the election of any of these people.

the objective of these people is the final disappearance from the world of the Catholic Church and the objective has been set by Lucifer.

Libera Me and Rick de Lano's posts above hit the nail on the head.

They've already ruined the Church's worship, they have introduced serious perversions of doctrine, the Priesthood has been ruined, Church buildings have been re-ordered to resemble Masonic temples, they do and say everything to make the Faithful turn away in disgust.

It looks like this Pope had in his mind his physical and other weaknesses from the start, but in the end he has turned away in disgust too (which it is not his to do, but that's another question).

Now Britain's only Cardinal is finished, whether he's guilty or not guilty.

I thank Almighty God that He gave me my life through parents who saw through all this forty-five years ago.

My mother's prayer was "I pray that my children may believe what I believe".

This one does, Mum.-----------------------------

Benedict Carter: who are you - a true follower of the faith by account of the various posts of yours I have read I think. Your long heart-felt comment on the 'Vatican versus Vatican' speaks so much. I too a great sinner feel so much loyalty to the traditional Church which saved me and my faith and eradicated the influence of the modern, liberal Church and its misguided priests which I encountered when I was young. I think this blog, which I have only recently discovered, to be filled with a lot of faith and devotion to our true Church, please God look after all those who wish to start again, and those who wish to continue following what is good and true. It seems like the whole world is against tradition sometimes.

A sinner is what I am, a pretty useless individual to whom God has shown His Mercy.

You said, "It seems like the whole world is against tradition sometimes".

Yes, of course true and in this lies the guarantee that we are right. Christ is hated by the world and "Traditional Catholics" are hated too.

We remind our own fellow Catholics, clerical and lay, and the secular world, of sin and the need for redemption and it's exactly these two things which they scorn and mock, trusting in the merely human only.

Let us hold fast to the fullness of the Catholic Faith whatever happens.

On Rev Rosica's "Pepper & Darkness" television network he praised the infamous dissenter, Gregory Baum, has used the term "Taliban Catholics" to describe those attached to the Usus Antiquior and went out of his way to attack Vox Cantoris from Rome.

"Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son: let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you; let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Also do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?

For those that want more, St. Louis de Montfort will guide you to her in extraordinary ways.

I saw Benedict XVI give his last Angelus prayer and blessing this AM covered by CNN. He does not look ill to me. Weakness due to the natural aging process in a nomral fact of life...and unfortunatly it can bring complications and other ailments with it. But it is usually (unless accelerated by a serious illness or injury, like a fall), a slow process. Therefore,had he not resigned, Benedict XVI possibly could have looked forward to 2-5 more years as Pope. Only God could tell what the man could have done in those years...and only God can judge him for resigning his post....something even 4 of the last six Popes did not do despite serious and dehabilitating illnesses (Pius XI-congestive heart failure,asthma....Pius XII-gastrointestinal disease,hypertension,cerebro- vascular disease,- John XXII-metastatic stomach cancer-Paul VI chronic degenerative polioarthrosis, cogestive heart failure-John Paul II...the after effects of an assasination attempt, Cytomegalovirus (chronic blood infections from tainted blood transfusions, anemia, Parkinson's Disease, benign colon tumors, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, cerebro-vascular disease, pulmonary effusion, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).None of these men resigned. They continued until death.

I personally believe that Benedict XVI resigned because of a personal feeling of weakness and a fatigue trying to deal with an endless crisis in the Church. His decision is extremely grave and harmful to the church because it opens the door to those who would love to wreck the Church as it has been ruined over the last 50 years....and they see the departure of Benedict XVI as their last opportunity. Which is why the most liberal/progressive canidates for the Papacy are the only ones being hailed in the media!!I personally believe that this decision of Benedict XVI has done tremendous harm to the Church and to the office of the Papacy. I believe he felt he is too weak and too old to deal with the crises in the Church. That is his right. But it is not a service to the Church, especially if we get a Pope who is in opposition to the many good works Benedict XVI began and left unfinished either because he was opposed by these dark forces in the Vatican which is mentioned in the Cardinal's dossier, or because he just decided to walk away.I believe that the 3 Cardinal's report pushed Benedict XVI to resign more than any health issues..considering how all previous Popes served to the end.Many with great suffering at the end. But they were still there to the end!

Benedict Carter...your words are a balm for the sorrow we are all experiencing at this time. The SSPX would truly shed their blood for our dear Holy Father, that I have no doubt about. We have the remedy for all this....The Rosary Of Our Lady, The Brown Scapular. The Five First Saturdays....And last but not least The Consecration of Russia to The Immaculate Heart Of Mary , done according to request by Our Lady Herself to Sister Lucia. A request that is so simple that only small little nobodys can seem to grasp it.

The "Taliban Catholic" statement was bad enough from Father Rosica, but the swooning over Gregory Baum was way over the top. The fact that he is now at the Vatican in a somewhat prominent place just disturbs me to no end. It's bad enough we in Canada are constantly subjected to his non sense, but now the rest of the English speaking Church too? ugh He apparently thinks nothing of launching a personal attack on someone who asks for clarification, rather than just explaining what he said and or meant.

If the prophecies of Malachias are not a forgery (which may well be), then Benedictus XVI was the last Pope before Petrus II. But perhpas what is really meant here, is that Benedictus is the last Pope of his kind! Since Pope Paul VI, the papacy has been gradually but surely giving up its uniqeness, and - in its papal liturgy and style and outward atributes - the Pope has become nothing more than any other Bishop. Paul VI sold his tiara to the Cardinal Archbishop of New York, abolisehd the Papal Liturgy replacing it with the Novus Ordo rite, in which the Papal Mass is hardly different from a Ponitifical Mass (of teh Bishop, that is), which is hardly different from the Mass of a simple priest. John Paul II abolished the Sede Gestatoria, and turned the Papal Liturgy into a broadway show /circus... and turned the Sacred Office of the Supreme Pontiff into that of a travelling Superstar, seeking applause, and providing world-wide entertainment. Pope Benedictus XVI took the final step of removing the Tiara from the Papal Coat of Arms, and abolishing the title ''Patriarch of the West''. Now that the Pope has abdicated for reasons of old age, so can his successors. Benedict's seccessor(s) will truly be a different kind of Pope than all the Predecessors. The end of the Papacy aa we knew it, has arrived, it seems to me.

A sinner is what I am, a pretty useless individual to whom God has shown His Mercy.

You said, "It seems like the whole world is against tradition sometimes".

Yes, of course true and in this lies the guarantee that we are right. Christ is hated by the world and "Traditional Catholics" are hated too. -------------

Yes, too true; the long hard road, Purgatory through to Heaven I pray - to disengage with the real world while living in it, be hated like Christ but not lose the faith and not be 'blinded' ever again by the devil's short easy road.

"All things being equal, prefer to be weak rather than strong, despised rather than considered, rejected rather than sought after, so as to be more like Jesus."Blessed Charles de Foucauld (1858–1916)

Happened to see on TV here in Sydney, Australia, Fr. Tom Rosica giving a quote to the media, in Rome. Who on earth put him at the mic as spokesperson. I am shocked. His idea of Catholic Church is different to mine and I think to many others....